Cabra Traffic

At the October Central Area Committee meeting I submitted a motion calling on Dublin City Council to put in place a comprehensive traffic management plan for Cabra to reduce the negative impact of increased traffic volumes through Cabra when the fly-over on the Ratoath Road opens. In response to this motion the Manager provided me with the following report : "In common with all major schemes an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared as part of the planning process for the Ratoath Road realignment and new Overbridge. As part of the EIS Traffic Impacts were considered. While the scheme will increase traffic safety, reduce traffic congestion and facilitate enhanced rail services on the existing rail line traffic volumes are predicted to increase on Ratoath Road, Canal Avenue, Fassaugh Avenue, River Road and Cabra Road and to be reduced on Dunsink Lane, Ashtown Road and Navan Road. Traffic analysis undertaken shows that the junction most affected by the scheme the upgraded Ratoath Road / Ballyboggn Road junction will operate satisfactorily in the design year. Following the opening of the bridge traffic department will monitor traffic in the area to determine if any additional traffic management measures are warranted. The contact for this work is Ronan O’Dea, Senior Engineer, Tel 222 2907."  Mary

Royal Canal Day

Everyone is invited to the ROYAL CANAL DAY, a dynamic event planned by the Dublin City North Volunteer Centre.  The Royal Canal Day will take place on October the 12th along the banks of the Royal Canal with the main objective being to get local people to come out, have some fun and to clean-up litter all along the Royal Canal from Dublin’s city centre all the way out to Blanchardstown.  There will varioius activities and events related to the canal and its history, such as Walks with Botonist Declan Doogue, Pat Liddy walking tour and Dublin Cycling Campaign social ride.  Further information including the schedule and the meeting points for the canal clean-up can be found on the facebook page or contacting the Centre by tel.872 2622 or email: royalcanalteam@gmail.com.   I encourage as many people as possible to come along and participate in this family friendly event and enjoy the wonderful Royal Canal.  Mary

"First Fix Free"

In June 2013 Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan promised homeowners that the Government will pay to fix any leaks found on the homeowner’s side when domestic water meters are introduced.

I have repeatedly requested details of Minister Hogan’s promised “first fix free” scheme but been unable to obtain any. Dublin City Council and Irish Water, the two organisations that work for Minister Hogan, and are responsible for water services have advised me that they have no information and suggested I check with the Minister. The last update I received from the Minister’s office indicated that the Minister is still working out the details.

This week Irish Water will start connecting meters to homes in Dublin City. There will be considerable cost involved for the state in connecting meters to more 130,000 homes in Dublin. Apart from the fact that it makes no sense to install meters on leaky pipes, if the Government is going to pay to fix leaks on the homeowner’s side, they should keep costs and disruption to a minimum by fixing the leaks at the same time as meters are installed.

130,000 homes in the city will be affected by this deal. At the City Council meeting on Monday October 7, 2013, I will propose a motion calling for the installation of domestic water meters to be put on hold until the Minister meets with City Councillors to address our concerns. I will ask all Councillors, including the majority Labour and Fine Geal Councillors some of whom must share our concerns, to support the motion.  Mary

Motion in relation to Item 8 Report No. 340/2013 Transition to Irish Water
Report No. 340/2013 details a number of significant issues around the Governments plans to transition water services from Dublin City Council to Irish Water. Secure and reliable water services are essential for the Dublin City. The elected members of Dublin City Council are concerned about the negative impact the issues raised in the report could have on every home and business in the city. We call on the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to immediately provide details of his promised “first fix free” scheme that he said will see the Government pay for leaks found on homeowner’s property. We call for the installation of domestic water meters to be delayed until such time as the Minister meets with City Councillors and addresses our concerns.

Irish Water

Following announcement of Minister Phil Hogan's plan to transition water service from Dublin City Council to Irish Water and in advance of the official transition date of January 2014, Irish Water is due to start installing domestic water meters in Dublin City this week. I have major concerns which must be addressed before we proceed down a similar route to the disastrous transition of waste services to private operators in 2011.

Some of the most important details about how water services will be delivered in the future have yet to be confirmed. The primary legislation that will set-out the arrangements for the transition of water services from local authorities to Irish Water has not yet been published even while Irish Water install meters to homes in the city this week.

In a report, attached, to Dublin City Councillors, Dublin City Manager has outlined a number of significant issues and concerns including : no legislation, challenging timescales for transition of services from Dublin City Council to Irish Water, installation of domestic water meters from 7th October 2013, absence of Service Level Agreement, absence of Annual Service Plan, investment in water services, transfer of assets, staff, future planning and development matters, separation of drainage and waste water services, customer relations management, financial issues and communications. 

The government is prioritising metering ahead of fixing leaks and building new water sources. Only secure and reliable water services are suitable to be metered and charged to homeowners and businesses. Despite my repeated requests the Minister has still not given any details of his promise that the government will pay to fix any domestic leaks found. As of now homeowners are liable to fix any leaks found and if leaks are caused when the domestic meters are being installed it will be homeowners who will have to pay to have their gardens dug-up and leaks fixed. This could prove very costly for some homes and be unaffordable for many.

The financial aspects of this secret deal are of even greater concern. From the bits of available information it appears businesses in Dublin are going to face an unfair hike in charges to bring them in line with commercial water charges in other parts of the country. It also appears that funding for local services could be reduced as government uses the available funds to pay for Irish Water. Additionally the Government plans require all water services assets to be transferred from Dublin City Council to Irish Water. It is imperative that the City gets fair value for those public assets.

Secure and reliable water services are essential for the Dublin City. There are too many unanswered questions and uncertainties around the Governments plans which strips Dublin City Council of valuable assets yet burdens it with continuing responsibilities and slams homes and businesses in the city with extra costs.

At the City Council meeting I will propose a motion calling for the installation of domestic water meters to be put on hold until the Minister meets with City Councillors to address our concerns.

Every home in the city will be affected by this deal and I will ask all Councillors, including the majority Labour and Fine Geal Councillors some of whom must share our concerns, to support the motion and on behalf of the people of Dublin hold the Minister to account.

Motion in relation to Item 8 Report No. 340/2013 Transition to Irish Water 

Report No. 340/2013 details a number of significant issues around the Governments plans to transition water services from Dublin City Council to Irish Water. Secure and reliable water services are essential for the Dublin City. The elected members of Dublin City Council are concerned about the negative impact the issues raised in the report could have on every home and business in the city. We call on the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to immediately provide details of his promised “first fix free” scheme that he said will see the Government pay for leaks found on homeowner’s property. We call for the installation of domestic water meters to be delayed until such time as the Minister meets with City Councillors and addresses our concerns.

Please Vote No

 

The main reason to vote No tomorrow is to send a strong message to Government that we are not fools and we do not like being lied to. They lied to get power and they continue to lie as they exercise power.  They say abolishing the Seanad will mean political reform – this is a lie. They say abolishing the Seanad will save €20million – this is a lie. They say abolishing the Seanad will mean less politicians – this is a lie.  Since they were elected they have ruled with an iron fist. They dismiss any real debate. The Budget is only days away. Each of their budgets has been marked by unfairness and inequity, each budget more regressive than the last. I am no defender of the current Seanad. It is a creature of the political establishment.  Like all our political structures it could benefit from REAL political reform.  However if it is abolished as a pretence for “political reform” it will be a major boost to dishonest, uncaring and autocratic politics. We are right to expect better and we should demand better from our politicians. Please Vote No. Mary